Discussions By Condition: I cannot get a diagnosis.

Post Trauma Stress Disorder Scapegoat

I am so sick of doctors telling me that the only thing wrong is PTSD. I have hematuria, itchy sores on arms and legs, swollen lyph on back of neck and bumps on my tongue. These bumps look like my taste buds have swelled all up. Its mostly on the top and tip.

I get occasional headaches and have had gastro problems since Iraq(2004), but I didn't go through anything too brutal over there. I didn't have to kill anyone or see anyone dead or hurt. The worst I had to experience was ducking when indirect came our way.

I was very lucky and blessed not to go through what alot of the guys went through, so it frustrates me that docs want to diagnosis me with a disease that should be reserved for those who are actually suffering from the aftereffects of these kinds of situations.

I truly think there is something wrong with me, but no one will even look past the easy answers. Does anyone have any ideas what could be wrong, or what kind of doctor I should look for with these kind of symptoms?

9 Replies:

I just really wanted to "thank -you" for your service to our country. You shouldnt down play your role over there - im sure just getting the news that you are headed into a war has to be tramatic. as for your symptoms does anyone else you were with have any also? a lot of the gulf war soldiers came back sick before they would aknowledge it. did you recieve any vaccines before going? maybe this could be the cause. As for the diagnosis of PTSD your symptoms to me dont see to coincide. For the headaches you can try a neurologist and for the gastro symptoms try seeing a gastroenologist. id definately see an urologist for the hematuria. there are allergy and immunology doctors that maybe can help with the swollen lymph nodes and sores. if not see a dermatologist. hope this helps.... your va hospital should have specialists and or can ask your dr for referrals. i more often believe that when dr. doesnt know whats wrong they just give you a - ill quote you "scapegoat diagnosis" are you beeing treated through the va now? they have some great resourses im sure you could find some really good specialist. Good luck....keep me posted

i really couldn't say if the symptoms you describe are caused by another illness. What I will say, as a person who had a really bad dose of ptsd following an accident that the physical symptoms can be diabolical and very real and visible. I suffered from psoriasis, stomach cramps, diaorreah (sic) joint pain and lethary. As I got treated and managed the stress symptoms the physical symptoms diminished, but make no mistake it's no quick and easy answer. It can take a long long time to treat stress symptoms. Any kind of stress, ptsd or otherwise, can manifest in some horrid physiical symptoms. Think of alapecia (hair loss), stomach problems (including vomitting, weight loss/gain), loss of periods, impotence andmore. Stress is underestimated. It doesn't mean your symptoms aren't serious or important to treat, or that you are being seen as a malingerer, it just means that they believe that's the cause of your physical symptoms. PTSD is the worst kind of broken leg. No one sees it but you but it's so painful it's beyond words.

It's not just PTSD. It sounds similar to "Gulf War Syndrome". Also Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. look into these two. They are similar, if not one in the same and a lot of people who are in military or spouses of military personnel have been affected. How many vaccines have you had? Can you trace symptoms back to last vaccine administered? There are a lot of medical professionals, teachers, military and students beginning to get diagnosed with CFS.

Are you still living on base? I just heard that an eastern base, possibly Lejeune, has been drinking contaminated water for years. Many times higher than allowed. Did you get into any chemicals over there? Try a perfect diet, no smoking, bottled water, no sugar, fresh food etc. diet and see how you feel. I'd lay off citrus for a while as your taste buds might complain. Also, thank you for serving your country.

I have found that the civilians have so much love and support for the returning military, and we are so grateful for your support. I have seen an urologist and a dermatologist, it was actually the dermatologist that told me it must be PTSD. She tested me for leishmaniasis, a sand flea disease. Which she said that I didn't have. I have gotten all of the vaccines that the military gives to deploying soldiers. You don't want to know all of them. Except smallpox, I weasled my way out of that one.THe gastro problems actually didn't start, as far as I can remember, until very near to the end of my deployment. But the military purposely stops you up as much as possible while in the field. The urologist said that sometimes hematuria is just unexplainable. My primary care said that the enlarged lymph is nothing to worry about. And the surgeon won't aspirate my lymph until the sores go away. The sores have been around since January and don't seem to want to leave.I am not in the military anymore, I have started a family, and don't want to be away from them. The VA is impossible to deal with. I can't miss the amount of work I would have to get on all the registries and whatnot. The paperwork is intensive and I feel bad for all the guys who have to rely on the VA for support.

Hi PTSD Goat!First, thanks for protecting us. My husband is in the military so I am with you! I have had PTSD, too, bigwoodenhand. Yes, it is real. I think my case was "light" but it led to a lot of anxiety. The slightest thing could cause me to jump out of my chair. If you react abnormally to say....seeing a kid walk near a car and having the image of (what happened to me) seeing a man and baby killed in a car wreck play over and over in your mind....I get it. Your body, simply over reacts because it is literally shocked. That logic can furhter lead you to saying everything over reacts. I do believe the subconscious protects us, but we do have breakthroughs if we try to suppress too much. My "ptsd rxns still surfaces under stress. So....stress IS rough on the body.However, I don't buy that you have PTSD, primarily. Not trying to minimize your role over there, and certainly you've seen a lot in the military, but if you only had to duck once....you weren't in the midst of the gore. Still dangerous.So hematauria? You mean blood in your urine? Come on! PTSD is the explanation? So.....did you get the Kabella Crud? You very likely have a parasitic infection called Schistosomiasis or bilharzia, caused by species of flatworm. Also called snail fever. Cutaneous schistosomiasis is sometimes commonly called swimmer's itch. But you have all 3 major symptoms, gastro, urinary and skin.In addition, you received many vaccines before you left the country, right? These vaccines could have made you vulnerable to parasitic infections not otherwise infecting others.Gulf war syndrome is real. And it is NOT caused by asparatame, primarily, I believe. Overheated aspartame= formaldehyde. Many people forget formaldehyde is in beer. Not that I am a fan of aspartame.Who are you being seen by? I have met some really great doctors in the military and some really crappy ones. It just depends on where and whom you see.Are you just seeing your....don't know how to say this....unit dr.? Flight surgeon, etc? Try to get to Bethesda or Walter Reed in DC.Rad mentions contaminated drinking water. Yeah. Any of us that have lived on a military base KNOW everything there is pollluted. A military base is its own country with its own rules. Here are some links on the water pollution. I think it was posted on here earlier by Fruity. http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/06/marine_badwater_070618w/http://www.gmasw.com/ao_bases.htmAlso likely is that you have many nutritional deficiencies b/c your body has been taken over by an onslaught of vaccines, toxins and perhaps parasites.If you can't get the Dr.'s to take you seriously and can't get beyond the unit's Dr. Challenge them a little. Take printouts of things with you. Tell....well, understanding the problems with rank and respect, respectfullly request for them to prove you wrong. If you are wrong, then you will accept it is PTSD. After all, wouldn't you WANT to have PTSD rather than all of the other things it could be?:)Then, I suggest an infectious disease specialist or a dr. that has a proven record with gulf war syndrome. With similar experiences, that kind of dr. will know what to look for.I wish I could offer more help. Semper Fi, Go Navy....Army Rocks!Val

ketamine is a tranquilizer used for big cats like Lions and Tigers. I would not suggest the use of it. Your symptoms are physiological, not psychological. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Gulf War Syndrome, PTSD, all similar in many regards. They say the PTSD is in mind more than body. CFS/GWS are in the body, not in the mind. You know the difference.MC